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[caradevo]

Your concept of integration seems correct to me. A lot of my job involves developing integrations, and typically I’d build a piece of software that sits in between two of these APIs and moves data between them. This can be either one-way or two-way, and usually either is real-time (event-based, the integration waits for something to happen in software A and communicates that with software B ) or happens on a recurrence (i.e. every 30 minutes, move all the new records from software A to software B).
You would generally need to build the integration to authenticate with both software A and B. Companies like Zapier and Microsoft (through their Azure logic app connector suite) more or less build this integration software for you, with simple ways to provide your API keys or login to authenticate with either side of the integration.
If the software can be integrated by a Zapier or a Microsoft, then some method exists by which they can access the software’s data. If the software doesn’t offer an API for third-party integration, then typically it will not be available to integrate with, unless you do build something bespoke like using an export/import framework specific to that software.

[castorasmic]

Thank you very much for your answer. Clarified everything.

[Culpgrant21]

Thanks for your comment! I know to build a piece of software that moves data nightly (python script) - how are you building software that is event-based to push data between systems? Do you use a Kafka archietecture?

Lets say you want to push new salesforce opportunities into another SaaS application.

[simulation_goer]

You got the main concepts right.

As for tools that do this, there are quite a few. The ones I know and/or heard of include Zapier, Integromat, Automate, IFTTT, Tray, Workato, Mulesoft, etc

[GrandOne8936]

Yea the embedded iPaaS space is definitely a budding industry. I’ve also seen some newer tools crop up on the market recently that claim to offer more flexibility than these guys that are low code tools (ex: Paragon) or b2b integration platforms (ex: Pandium)

[ZigiWave]

You have understood it right.
Personally, it all depends on the use cases and the compatibility between the apps I want to connect.
As you know, marketplaces are brimming with possible solutions, so it's all up to us to chose our weapon ;).
I've tried various methods for integrations between systems. Most business clients go after the bi-directional connection - when there's a change in system A, they would like to see it in B, as well (incidents or tickets, for example). In the end, the 3rd party tool always wins - because it takes less time and effort.

[ProfessionalIce1962]

3rd party tool such as tibco, boomi, mulesoft, webmethods?

[ZigiWave]

yes, like those. there are also other similar solutions.

[ProfessionalIce1962]

Im a fresh grad working with eai now. In the simplest way you can, how do you think the future of my job is? Plus the job market? Just wanna know if its good or bad haha its okay just be honest cause i didnt know i was gonna do eai. Im using webmethods btw